Brighton Rock

By Since66
August 4 2012

The two week tour of America was no doubt a commercial success. The brand coffers earned a few extra quid, the natives came out  in their numbers to see the Blues get off to a flying start in Seattle, stutter in New York and succumb in Philadelphia and Miami.

Results are never an issue in pre-season.

Pre-season is all about fitness, trying new systems and tactics, however, one major problem Chelsea have is the lack of striking options which I thought would be an issue before the tour kicked off and the problem was never more evident in the games against PSG, All-Stars and AC Milan.

Unless the money earned in America is spent on a big name striker before the big kick-off in two weeks, Bobby Di HAS to start with Sturridge as the central striker who has two goals in the Olympics so far.

From a creative point of view, Chelsea have that in abundance. New signings Marin and Hazard and the returning Juan Mata (disappointingly from Spain’s point of view, no goals in three group games).

Mata and Romeu are due to return to Cobham next Tuesday, leaving Sturridge, Bertrand and new signing Oscar still participating at London 2012.

Marin and Hazard have more than suggested their trickery will cause defences problems, but unless the striker, whoever it is, can convert the service, Chelsea may well have to be reliant on Super Frank for goals.

Today, Chelsea travel down to Brighton to play the hosts at their plush new stadium on the outskirts of Brighton in the beautiful countryside of Falmer.

Bobby Di reunites with former team mate Gus Poyet and Bobby Di said of Poyet, “Gus is a good friend of mine and we have been since the first day we played together at this club.

“I have been following his career and he has been following mine. We talk a lot and it’s always interesting when we do.”

The game is a complete sell-out, with a reduced capacity of 18,000, due to refurbishment taking place at the stadium.

Team news will be published on the message board below as soon as it is available and there will be LIVE updates on Chelsea’s progress from 3pm.

2012 FA Cup Winners, 2012 CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE

TWITTER: WVOMChelsea

Pre-Season Friendly - Brighton Away - LIVE Updates from 3pm

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 04/08/2012 10:12

50 Years Over 100 Years
04/08/2012 10:12

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AU
04/08/2012 13:17

You could not be more right. The money that Roman has spent in the middle of the park is evident on the field and the fact that the frontline has been poorly served by the spending spree is also glaringly evident. Cavani, Falcao, Lawendowski and Andre. Any two of the above plus Torres or Sturridge will be the MINIMUM to start the season with witha realistic hope of getting trophies.GOALS, GOALS and GOALS are the margin determine victory in a football game.

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Since 66
04/08/2012 14:34

Starting XI at Brighton

Cech

Ivanovic
Cahill
JT
Cole

Essien
Lampard
Meireles

Ramires
Torres
Hazard

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Since 66
04/08/2012 14:58

Chelsea subs

Ross Turnbull, David Luiz, John Mikel Obi, Romelu Lukaku, Paulo Ferreira, Sam Hutchinson, Yossi Benayoun, Lucas Piazon.

Marko Marin is unavailable due to picking up a slight knock in training



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Since 66
04/08/2012 14:59

Nice touch from Brighton

Guard of honour for the European Champions

ex-Chelsea Liam Bridcutt starts for the Albion



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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:00

Brighton 0-0 Chelsea

Just kicked off

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:05

5mins played

0-0

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:10

10 mins played and nothing has happened apart from a Super Frank free-kick blocked by Brightons wall

0-0

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:11

The travelling Blues are making loads of noise



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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:13

Brighton taking no prisoners on Hazard

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:15

15 mins

still 0-0

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:21

20mins

0-0

Absolutely no service for Torres at all

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:23

From real threat of the game from Brighton cleared for a corner corner came to nothing

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:25

25mins

still 0-0

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:31

30 mins of tedium gone

still 0-0

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:33

Nice little interplay between Torres and Essien allowing Torres to have a weak shot which is saved easily

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:35

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:36

Brighton defensive error from Dunk, Ramires breaks then crosses at the edge of the area, Torres steps over allowing Super Frank following up to side foot into the net

Brighton 0-1 Chelsea

35mins

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:37

Easily the best piece of football all afternoon



Chelsea lead 1-0

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:39

Poor equaliser to concede after scoring

Bridcutt sends the ball over to Brighton's left from the cross, Vicente side foots past a full stretched Cech into the bottomn corner.

37mins

Brighton 1-1 Chelsea

Torres just had had a shot saved by the 'keeper in response

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:40

Might have a bit of a game now

40mins

Brighton 1-1 Chelsea

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:44

Another save from the keeper this time from a deflected Essien shot from just outside the area

still 1-1

two minutes until half-time

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:46

Yet another defensive cock-up on the counter attack.

Meireles slips leaving Buckley in the clear, Terry unable to catch up, Cech does well to try and clear without pulling down Buckley only for the ball to fall to Barnes who crashes the ball home

Brighton 2-1 Chelsea

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:47

Half-time from Brighton

Brighton 2-1 Chelsea

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Since 66
04/08/2012 15:58

I tried to give Meireles the benefit of the doubt for the slip building up to Albion's 2nd goal but after seeing a replay

WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST ROW Z IT?????

Half-time

Brighton 2-1 Chelsea

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:03

Chelsea sub

Mikel on for Meireles

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:04

2nd half underway

Brighton 2-1 Chelsea

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:05

From a Super Frank corner Cahill heads Kuzscak saves under his bar

Best Chelsea corner by a country mile

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:07

Yet another high cross goes in this time from Ivanovic

WHY?

still 2-1

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:08

Super Frank gets the idea. Put a low cross in. Brilliant ball but no-one following up

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:08

50 mins

Brighton 2-1 Chelsea

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:11

Torres first real chance goes high over the bar

still 2-1

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:14

55 mins

still 2-1

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:15

Even Torres is joining in on crosses - Failed

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:16

Vicente just forced Cech into a decent high save. The resulting corner came to nothing

Still 2-1

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:17

Brighton sub

Ryan Harley on for Gary Dicker

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:18

60 mins played

Brighton 2-1 Chelsea

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:19

Chelsea sub

Luiz on for Terry

Warm 'appreciation' from the home fans as JT trudges off

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:22

Super Frank unlucky with a flicked header from Ivanovic cross

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:23

Chelsea sub

Cech off
Turnbull on

still 2-1

65mins

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:24

The commentator described Chelsea's performance as laboured so far.

LAZY is a better word

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:26

Great save from Turnbull at his near post after Vicente turned Mikel inside out

still 2-1

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:27

Luiz sends a shot from the left edge of the area that just dips over the bar

still 2-1

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:28

70 mins

Brighton 2-1 Chelsea

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:31

Nice play from Chelsea ending in a Ramires shot saved by Kusczak at his near post

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:32

15 mins left

Brighton 2-1 Chelsea

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:33

Good clean catch by Turnbull from a Brighton corner

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:36

Whereas Brighton capialised on Chelsea's defensive errors, Super Frank and Torres couldn't do the same as Dunk gives the ball away in the middle of the park

still 2-1

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:37

Chelsea sub

Torres off
Lukaku on

Can't see what difference that will make, the service for Torres has been aboslutely appalling

still 2-1

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:39

10 mins left

Brighton 2-1 Chelsea

Fair play to Poyet. He has set his team up well and Bridcutt has been outstanding in front of Albion's defence

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:40

Lukaku clattered. Wasted free-kick by Super Frank down Chelsea's right

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:40

8 mins left

still 2-1

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:41

Vicente hits one just over the bar from a free-kick just outside the area. Had Turnbull worried

still 2-1

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:42

Lukaku with a lovely turn wins a free-kick

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:43

Free-kick came to nothing as Luiz smashes it into the wall

5mins left

still 2-1

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:44

Hazard flashes one just over the bar

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:45

3-1 Brighton

Crofts the scorer

Its a hat-trick of defensive cock-ups

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:46

There was a clash involving Luiz. Luiz went down like Platoon expecting a foul, but the ref played on and Crofts was clear to make it 3-1.

2 mins left

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:49

Luiz involved in another clash. Albion went mad. Ref takes no action except for a drop ball

3 mins of stoppage time

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:50

Poor day out at the seaside for Chelsea

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:50

Minute or so left of stoppage time

Brighton 3-1 Chelsea

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:51

Weak shot by Essien saved by the legs of Kuzscak

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:52

Final score from Brighton

Brighton 3-1 Chelsea

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Since 66
04/08/2012 16:54

Third pre-season defeat on the trot. Poor poor performance at the Amex and 10 goals conceded in five games, average 2 per game.

Money Citeh will have a field day next week at Villa Park, tin hat time!!!!



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